Eggs Baked in Ham with Sofrito Recipe
Eggs baked in ham cups with creamed mushrooms underneath appeared on the February 2002 cover of Gourmet magazine. I made them on my show and was astonished (I don't know why—everything is tested at my magazine a zillion times until it is perfect) to find how easily they unmolded from the muffin tins and held their shape. This is an adaptation using my Guatemalan housekeeper Magda Alcayaga's sofrito in place of the mushroom base. Once you have tried this recipe and marveled, as I did, at how well it holds up, I guarantee you will start experimenting with it to see what other items—cheese, spinach, tomatoes—might also go nicely with the egg in its little ham cup.
Servings: Serves 4
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°.
To make the sofrito, combine the bell pepper, onion, tomato, cilantro, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in food processor and process until smooth.
Fit a slice of ham into each of lightly oiled muffin cups, custard cups or mini soufflé dishes (they must hold a scant 1/2 cup) with the ends of the ham extending about the edges of the cups. Divide the sofrito among the cups, shaping a hollow in the center. Crack 1 egg into each and top with the cheese. If using custard cups or soufflé dishes, place on a rimmed baking sheet for easy handling.
Bake in the center of the oven until the whites are cooked but the yolks are still runny, about 15 minutes. Season the eggs with salt and pepper and carefully remove (with the ham) from the muffin cups, using 2 spoons or spatulas. Sprinkle with tortilla chips and serve.
To make the sofrito, combine the bell pepper, onion, tomato, cilantro, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in food processor and process until smooth.
Fit a slice of ham into each of lightly oiled muffin cups, custard cups or mini soufflé dishes (they must hold a scant 1/2 cup) with the ends of the ham extending about the edges of the cups. Divide the sofrito among the cups, shaping a hollow in the center. Crack 1 egg into each and top with the cheese. If using custard cups or soufflé dishes, place on a rimmed baking sheet for easy handling.
Bake in the center of the oven until the whites are cooked but the yolks are still runny, about 15 minutes. Season the eggs with salt and pepper and carefully remove (with the ham) from the muffin cups, using 2 spoons or spatulas. Sprinkle with tortilla chips and serve.